PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Renato Sanches (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanches has chosen Breaking Benjamin - Ordinary Man as his entrance music. Renato Sanches struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 267.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Jimmy Karlsson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Karlsson
vs
Sanches

188 cm
32
223 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

192 cm
28
291 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jimmy Karlsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Renato Sanches!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karlsson swings for the body but Sanches moves out of range.
Sanches throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Karlsson scores with a jab to the body.
Karlsson shoots in looking for a takedown but Sanches manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Karlsson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sanches defending well as Karlsson loads up on a big left hand.
Karlsson throws an off balance right hand
and Sanches counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sanches slips under a jab from Karlsson.
Karlsson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice defenses there by Karlsson.
Karlsson shoots in but no luck this time.
Sanches swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Karlsson ducks under a wild hook from Sanches.
Renato Sanches is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanches avoids the body shot from Karlsson.
Karlsson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Karlsson shoots in and gets a takedown into Sanches's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Karlsson throws a big elbow that misses.
Karlsson throws an elbow that misses. Sanches uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Karlsson's guard. Nice move by Sanches!
Karlsson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Karlsson working a defensive guard here.
Karlsson wants to sweep here but Sanches controlling him for the moment.
Sanches wants to stand but Karlsson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sanches trying to control the position from guard on top but Karlsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Karlsson working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Karlsson with a jab.
Sanches takes a swing at Karlsson's ribcage but misses.
Karlsson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sanches looks to score with a jab to the body but Karlsson is just out of range.
Sanches throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Karlsson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Sanches avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Karlsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson closes the distance and clinches up with Sanches, looking for a takedown. Karlsson pushes Sanches against the cage but Sanches circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sanches lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Jimmy Karlsson has been cut.
Sanches connects with a crisp jab.
Karlsson scores with a jab to the head.
Sanches lands an overhand right.
Jimmy Karlsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Karlsson drives through with a takedown into Sanches's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Sanches is trying to control the position but Karlsson postures up.
Sanches tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sanches is keeping the position for now.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sanches is on top in guard.
Karlsson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Sanches gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Karlsson scores with a punch to the head.
Karlsson keeps the fight on the outside.
Sanches misses with a low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanches misses with a hook
and Karlsson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sanches on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Renato Sanches will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jimmy Karlsson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Karlsson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sanches sprawls well. Sanches wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Karlsson gets slowly back to his feet.
Karlsson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sanches defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Karlsson.
Karlsson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sanches circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jimmy Karlsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanches misses with a hook.
Karlsson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sanches keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Karlsson shoots in and bounces Sanches off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Karlsson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sanches is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Karlsson, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karlsson looking for a guillotine here but Sanches defends easily.
Sanches is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Karlsson looking for a guillotine here but Sanches defends easily.
Karlsson keeping moving, preventing Sanches from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanches slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Karlsson looking for a guillotine here but Sanches defends easily.

Karlsson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sanches is aware though and is defending well.
Sanches wants to get up but he can't break Karlsson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Karlsson keeping moving, preventing Sanches from controlling successfully.
Karlsson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Karlsson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanches tries to roll over but Karlsson keeps him under control.

Karlsson seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Sanches is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Jimmy Karlsson!
An out of breath Jimmy Karlsson thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.